IDNR: Hydraulic fracturing at least a year off in Illinois

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By The Associated Press

Rockford Register Star

By The Associated Press

Posted Nov. 14, 2013 at 5:00 PM

By The Associated Press
Posted Nov. 14, 2013 at 5:00 PM

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois regulators plan to publicly release proposed rules for hydraulic fracturing “very soon,” but it will be months before any permits are issued because the state must get the public’s feedback before rules can be finalized, according to environmental officials.

Marc Miller, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, told The (Springfield) State Journal-Register that new state regulations for the practice are nearly complete. DNR spokesman Chris McCloud told the Associated Press Thursday in an email that the proposed regulations will be made public “very soon.”

Miller told the newspaper that no companies have registered to perform hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” since the state started sign-ups last month, and it will be at least a year until fracking begins.

“I think the companies want to see how the rules are going to come out,” Miller said.

Regulations signed into law by the governor were hailed as among the toughest in the nation. The DNR must adopt rules to reflect the law.

The law requires companies to disclose chemicals to the DNR, test water before and after fracking and assume liability for contamination.

Opponents of the legislation — who unsuccessfully pushed for a two-year moratorium to allow more time to study the environmental and health impact of fracking — worry it will pollute and deplete water resources.

Miller said he expects about 700 permit applications would ultimately submitted each year in Illinois.

“We don’t have an indication of how big it might be until it starts to happen,” said Miller.